Southern California -- this just in

Morning Scoop: a message to Latinos, a drop in the budget bucket, a lock on recyclables

June 16, 2009 | 10:48
am

Good morning from the City Desk. A sampler of California stories from today's Los Angeles Times:

A state budget panel has rejected some of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's big proposals to close the budget deficit as Democratic lawmakers announce their own plan featuring billions of dollars in taxes, writes Shane Goldmacher.

In the last three years, the state has paid $3.2 million to provide lawmakers with cars, gas and insurance (which also covers their family members). It's a drop in the budget bucket, writes Patrick McGreevy, but a state panel is taking a good look at the cost.

In one Santa Ana neighborhood, residents bothered by people scavenging for recyclables have turned to special bins that lock and are designed to thwart bears, writes Tony Barboza in the Out There column.

Some students in Chino will be having a short summer this year -- thanks to a school district error that leaves them with 34 days to make up, writes Seema Mehta.

Authorities are trying to get Eastside residents ready for the Gold Line by handing out hundreds of traffic citations to drivers and pedestrians, writes Hector Becerra.

Burton Way used to be a sleepy little street, but now it's the site for several new developments, writes Cara DiMassa.